Despite its apparent durability, the dermis is subject to tearing. How might a person know that the dermis has been previously stretched and/or torn?
A) There is an episode of acute pain due to the large number of tactile corpuscles.
B) The stretching causes the tension lines to disappear.
C) The blood vessels in the dermis rupture and the blood passes through the tissue, causing permanent "black-and-blue marks."
D) The appearance of visible, silvery-white scars is an indication of stretching of the dermis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The appearance of visible, silvery-white scars is an indication of stretching of the dermis. This is because when the dermis is stretched or torn, collagen fibers in the skin are damaged or broken. As the skin heals, scar tissue forms, which looks different from the surrounding skin and appears as silvery-white in color.

Despite Its Apparent Durability, the Dermis Is Subject to Tearing